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​Sati​sfactory ​Academic Progress

The United States Department of Education requires that students applying for financial assistance must be enrolled in a program for the purpose of completing an AA/AS Degree, transfer requirements, or certificate program. All students must have their academic progress reviewed to determine if Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) has been achieved. The government requires that students who apply for financial assistance meet two standards:​

​​Qualitative Standard

All students at Riverside Community College District (RCCD) must have a Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0.

Quantitative Standard
All students must complete a certain percentage of units attempted in order to make progress toward their goal. There are two parts to this standard:

  1. Pace of progression: Students must complete at least 67% of the cumulative units attempted. If you are unable to finish your program within the maximum time frame, as explained below, you may lose eligibility for Title IV aid.
  2. Maximum Time Frame: The maximum time frame for completion of a degree or certificate is 150% of the published length of the program. All units attempted at RCCD will be included, since the maximum time frame is based upon units attempted. A student can receive financial assistance for a maximum of 150% of the published length of the program. For example, the published length of a degree program is 60 units, thus the student may receive financial assistance up to 90 attempted units (60 units x 150% = 90 units). If the published length of a certificate program is 40 units, the student may receive financial assistance up to 60 attempted units (40 units x 150% = 60 units).​

Evaluation
​All students will be evaluated at the end of each semester to determine if they are meeting the standards listed above, beginning with the Fall 2011 semester.

*If you have attempted less than 12 units at RCCD, then you will be required to maintain a 1.5 Cumulative GPA and must complete 50% of the courses you attempt to maintain SAP. Once you have attempted 12 or more units, you will be held to the standard as explained above.

Grade Standards
All semester units at RCCD include:

  • Attempted units include: A, B, C, D, F, CR, P, NC, NP, FW, W, I, IB, IC, ID, IF 
  • Completed units are units with a grade of: A, B, C, D, CR, P 
  • Transfer credits from other institutions will be included as attempted and completed units in the SAP calculation. 

Courses in which a student receives a grade of F, NC, NP, FW, W, ​I, IB, IC, ID and/or IF will not be counted as completed units for satisfactory academic progress purposes, but will be counted as attempted units.​

Only practicum/labs that are required, recommended or academically beneficial should be taken at the same time as the corresponding course.

Adding and/or dropping units after the first grant disbursement will require a review and possible adjustment of any future disbursements. Student Financial Services follows all Title IV regulations in relation to financial assistance regulations for repeated courses and IP grades.

SAP Warning: Students failing to meet SAP will be placed on a 1 semester “warning” which will allow a student to receive financial assistance even though they are not meeting the SAP standard. If after the “warning” semester, the student is still not meeting the SAP standard, they will become ineligible.

SAP Ineligible: A student can become ineligible for 2 reasons:

  1. Student failed to meet SAP standards after their “warning” semester and/or 
  2. Student exceeds the 150% maximum time frame (90 units) under the quantitative standard 

Students on an SAP Ineligible status can appeal this status once during their lifetime at RCCD. In order to appeal, the student must have extenuating circumstances that occurred during the period that the student did not meet SAP. To appeal, the student must document the circumstance for not meeting SAP and must provide official documentation. Examples of extenuating circumstances may include:

  • Death of an immediate family member 
  • Documented illness 
  • Major accident or injury of yourself or an immediate family member 
  • Change in major (1 time only) 
  • Completed Remedial (ESL or Basic Skills) courses which affected the Maximum Time F​rame requiremen

Students must turn in their extenuating circumstances appeal to their home college only. Each student who is approved for a “probation” period must have an academic plan developed which will outline the courses the student may receive financial assistance for. Please see the consumer guide on our website listed below for critical information and deadlines.

SAP Probation: Students will be placed on “probation” only if your appeal of your ineligible status was
approved. Students on “probation” must meet the SAP standard each semester in order to maintain their status.

If you fail to meet SAP while in a “probation” status, you will become ineligible to receive financial
assistance until you bring your SAP up to the minimum cumulative standards.

Please meet with your Student Financial Services Counselor at your home college, utilize tutorial services and time management in order to maintain your financial assistance eligibility. Please see our consumer guide for additional information regarding Satisfactory Academic Progress.​